Tube bender

ABSTRACT

A manually operable tube bender having a male clamp portion adapted to be clamped fixedly in a female clamping device for supporting the tube bender during a tube bending operation. The clamp element is interconnected with the mandrel of the tube bender by a connector portion. In one form, a hook is formed integrally with the male clamp portion and in a second form, the hook is pivotally associated therewith.

United j State s Patent n91 Kowai 5 5] Dec. 16, 1975 m mm. i

[75] "inventor: Leonard .IQK Wok Prospect [731 As signec: lmperial -Eastriion Corborntion,

t Qagorlll; [2 Filed- L: :APP; Non soonsg f 1 g s21 utstcla. suj rmtcmt5a Field ts rchu (56] tReIerences Clted Q a U NITED STAIES PATENTS263.050 -'iiliaazafsie hcm "7172i?" 1654.279 7-, 10/1951 Tomurin2.7o2.o65-- 2/i955. Hanan-. 7211s,"! 5 1757.562 f" 8/l956'; Zules;..72/388' 2.796.785 60951 P hiippe .1}, 71 383:

5 {s71 5 A manually operable tube bender having a mule clump 5/1959 Km val 72/. t-'.-

' 2.956.608 iii/I960 Vinkcniuldcr 72/3 3.555.990 lll97i Suding; 72/313.685.335 8/1972 Kuwul H 72/217 3.750.447 8/!973 'Ko\\'nl....; 7Z/3hHFranck 72/158 RZ-Jgh l0/l959 Primary Examiner-C. W. Lunhnm AssistantExaminer-Gene vP. Crosby Attorney. Agent. or Firm-Wegncr. Stellmnn.McCortL 721459. 458; 149.- sss. t

: r ABS'fRACT:

portion adapted to be clamped fixedly in u fem-tile clamping device forsupporting the tube bender during atube bending operation. The clu'mpelement is inter;

connected with the mandrel of r the tube bender by n connector portion.In one'jfortma hook is formed intogrally with the male clamp portion andin at second form. the hook is pivotaliy associated therewith.

' reclaims. l2 b awrn 'n ures U.S. Patent Dec. 16,1975 Sheetlof23,926,028

US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet2of2 3,926,028

TUBE BENDER BACKGROND OF THE INVENTION held against longitudinalmovement during the bending operation by a hook which is disposedagainst a starting position of the bend and against which the tube isurged by the forces generated by the sliding movement of the shoeagainst the tube surface. Excellent examples of such tube benders areshown in the U.S. Patent owned by the assignee hereof, including RobertD. McIntosh U.S. Pat. No. 2,428,237; Joseph H. Zales et al. U.S. Pat.No. 2,757,562; Leonard J. Kowal et al. U.S. Pat. No. 2,796,784; HowardL. Philippe U.S. Pat. No. 2,796,785 and U.S. Pat. No. Re. 24,449;Leonard J. Kowal U.S. Pat. No. 2,887,917; Julius Gryniewicz U.S.

. Pat. No. 2,908,193; George E. Franck U.S. Pat. No.

2,979,976; Alfred R. Landis U.S. Pat. No. 2,986,195; George E. FranckU.S. Pat. No. 3,051,218; George E. Franck et al. U.S. Pat. No.3,077,221; Leonard J. Kowal U.S. Pat.-No. 3,685,335; and Leonard J.Kowal et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,750,447.

lllustratively, in the Franck et al.. U.S. Pat. No. 3,077,221, the hookis swingably mounted to the mandrel, and in Kowal U.S. Pat. No.3,685,335 and Kowal et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,750,447,the hook is fixedlyassociated with the mandrel.

In Franck U.S. Pat. No. 2,702,065, a tube bending apparatus is shownhaving a base which may be clamped in a vise. A somewhat similar baseadapted to be clamped in a vise is shown in Franck U.S. Pat. No.2,762,415 (Re.27,426).

, SUMMARY or THE INVENTION The present invention comprehends an improvedmanually operable tube bender including a one-piece combination mandrelsupport and tube holder providing a facilitated tube bending operationand permitting facilitated use of the tube bender with the combinationstructure fixedly secured in a female clamping device. The tube benderis arranged for-facilitated swinging of the shoe in the tube bendingoperation with the structure so held. I

Adjustable stop means may be provided for positioning the end of thetube to be bentin a preselected relationship to the mandrel groove. Inone form, the adjustable stop means is carried on the means securing themandrel support and tube holder to the mandrel, and in another form, thestop means is carried on a post mounted to the mandrel support and tubeholder structure.

In one form, the hook portion is formed integrally with the clampelement adapted to be clamped in-the female clamping device. In'anotherform. the hook element is swingably mounted thereto.

in one form, a mounting wall is provided adjacent the l'irilaildld andthe hook portion is swingably mounted t ereto.

The securing means may comprise an elongated post having a threaded endsecured to the mandrel and adapted to carry the adjustable stop.Alternatively, the mandrel supportand tube holder may be secured to themandrel by a threaded means and the post may be secured to the mandrelsupport independently thereof.

In one illustrated embodiment, the mandrel sup ort and tube holderstructure comprises an L-shaped block with the tube holder fonnedintegrally therewith as a recess in one end edge portion of the block.

The tube bender of the present invention is extremely simple andeconomical of construction while yet providing an improved facilitatedtube bending Operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingwherein:

FIG. I is a side elevation of a tube bender embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified form of tube benderembodying the invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of still another modified form oftube bender embodying the Invcn tion;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of yet another modified form oftube bender embodying the invention;

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of a still further modified formof tube bender embodying the invention;

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary side elevation of yet a f urther modified formof tube bender embodying the invention; and

FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the exemplary embodiment ofFIGS. 1 and 2, a manually operable tube bender generally designated 10is shown to comprise a mandrel 11 having an arcuate tube bending groove12. A shoe I3 is swingably connected to the mandrel by a link 14 and ismanipulated by means of an elongated handle 15. Link 14 is pivotallyconnected to shoe. 13 by a pivot 16 and to the mandrel by a pivot 17.The tube T to be bent is urged into the mandrel groove 12 by movement ofthe shoe l3 thereagainst as the shoeis swung from a bend-start position18.

Tube T is held against a longitudinal movement during the tube bendingoperation by a hook 19. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, hook 19 comprises anintegral portion of a one-piece combination mandrel support and tubeholder structure generally designated 20.

Structure 20 comprises an L-shaped block having a first portion21defining a male clamp element adapted to be clamped fixedly in a femaleclamping device, such as a vise. Block 20 further includes a secondportion 22 having an end edge portion 23 defining a recess 24 forrnlnghook 19 integrally with structure 20. End edge portion 23 furtherdefines a connector 25 which is fixedly secured to mandrel 11 by meansof suitable threaded means, such as screw 26, so as to dispose 3 hook 19in alignment with the bend-start point 18, as best seen in FIG. 1.

The threaded securingmeans 26 is thuslydisposed remotely from the maleclamp portion 21, as best seen in FIG.

tool.

Thus. as shown in FlG. '1, with the clampportion 21 disposed lowermost.such as between the female clamping elements of asupporting'vise or thelike. the hook 19 is disposed substantially forwardly thereof forfacilitated bending of the tube T."

Referring now to the embodiment of F108. 3 and 4.

2, for facilitated tube bending operation of the,

4 the mandrel 411. The adjustable stop post 427 is secured to the block420.

in the embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 12. a further modified form of tubebender generally designated 510 is shown to include a fixed hook 519 andan adjustable stop 530 carried on a post 527 secured to the mountingstructure block 520. The connector portion 525 of the 3 block is securedto the mandrel 511 by a suitable screw "Each of the embodiments of FIGS.3-12 is thusly a tube bender generally designated 110 is shown tocomprise a tubebender. generally similar totube" bender but having amodified securing means 126 for fixedly securing thej'connector .portion;125 to the mandrel 111. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. the securing meansmay comprise a post 12'I, havinga threaded end i 128 secured to themandrel. The post includes an inner shoulder portion 129 clampingconnector portion 125 to the mandrel when the threadedportion 128 isfully threaded thereto.-

A bended by the invention.-

The post is elongate and carries anadjustable stop 130 defining ashoulder 131 against which the end of tube T may abut. .The stop isslidablyc'arriedbn post 126 and is fixed in the desired position bymeans of a; suitble set screw 132.'Th'e position of stop=130 on the"post is preselected for heeeetteattthe bend andfacil tates production ofa series of such tube bends by accurately positioningeach: tube by "thesimple expedient'of a tube into said groove in a tubeben abutting theend thereof 'fwithfl the stop when the tub is I A further. modified fonninserted into. the hoolo93nd tubibbrlqitigfgrobved vention g shbw iFIGS. 5 and v6 to comprisea manual tube bender-"gener ally designated210 havinga-combination mandrel support and tube holder structure- 220.Structure 220.

differs from structure 20 of tube bender 10 in having a mounting wall233 which defines connector 225 and a hook mounting portion 234;Connector 225 .is secured to the mandrel 211 byscrew 226 to dispose wall233 in spaced relationshipito. theimandrel. A screw 235is extendedthrough the hoolc' 'mounting portion 234 and threaded to the maridrel21 1. Screw, 235 includes a cylindrical shank portion 236'pivotallycarrying a hook member 237 for engagement with the tube adjacent thebend-start position 2 18 of the mandrel as shown in FlGS. 5 and 6.Thehook is swung into engagement with; the tube for facilitateddisposition {of f the tube' to tbe' bent in the toolduring thebendingopera tion.

Referring now to the crribo'difmentof FIGSJ 8, a tube bender;generallyde'sig't'ta'te'd Q3111isifgenerally similar to tube bender i210but having an adjustable stop 330 mountedon alpost327-tand isshown toiii-t clude a pivotal hook.337]ca'rried on ascrew"335.simi-' larly tohook237 andscrew 235 01 tube bender 210.

Post 327 i threaded t'ojthemandrel in a manner similar to thethreading'of post' 127 to mandrel ;1 1 1,of bender 110. Thus, tubebenderf310 is similar 'totubelbender 110 in having an "adjustablestopfmounted on apost defining the means" for securing the mountingstructure to the mandrel. andsimilar to tube'b'ender 210 in having apivotable hook. a i

Referring now to'FIGS. and l0, anothervmodified or form of tube benderembodying the invention generally designated 410 is shown? to comprise.a tube bgndcrjai generally similar to tube bender'310buthavin'g'a'sepa-I.

rate screw 426 for securing the mountingwali'433to shy-defining saidbook. 45 i 1 claim:

.1 1. ma manually operable tube bender having a man- "drel provided witha peripheral tube receiving groove. a shoe swin'gablymo unted to saidmandrel, and a handle for swinging said shoe about said mandrel forurging ing operation, the

improvement comprising:".- m t acne-piece combination mandrel supportand tube holder' having a firstinteg'ral Q portion defining a vmaleclamp element adapted to beclamped fixedly in a-female clamping devicefor supporting the tube bender duringa tubebending operation, a second Iintegral portion defining a hook. adapted to be engaged by the" tube forpreventing longitudinal movement thereof during the tube bending opera-.tion. and a third integral portion defining a connector; and 1 securingmeans for fixedly securing said connector to said mandrel. 2. The tubebender of claim 1 wherein said combination mandrel support and tube-holder comprises a block having an edge portion-provided with a recess{3. The tube bender of claim 1 wherein said combina- -tionmandrelfsupporfand tube holder comprises an -L shaped block having anend edge 'portion provided the combination mandrel support and tubeholder.

" 5.The "tubebenderof claim 1 further including ad- 1: ustable-istopmeans "carried'by said combination man- "dreiisupport andtube holder inalignment with said hook for; positioning the end of the tube to be bentin a preselected relationship to said mandrel groove.

6. The tube benderof claim 1 furtherincluding ad- ,ju'stable stopme'anscarried by saidsecuring-means in alignment with said hook forpositioning the end of the tube to be bent in a preselectedrelationshipto said mandrel groove. w y p '7. The tube bender of claim 1 furtherincluding adjustable stop means carried by said securing means inalignment with said hook for positioning the end of the tube to be bentin a preselected relationship to said ,rna'ndrelj groove. said securingmeans comprising an elongate post having a threaded end secured to saidmandreL- t I 8. The tube bender of claim 1 further including adjustablestop means carried by said securing means in alignment with said hookfor positioning the end of the tube to be bent ina preselectedrelationship to said mandrel groove.'-said securing ,meansfcomprising anelongatepost" and said adjustable stop includes shoulder meansslidably'fmounted thereon.

9. The tube benderjof claim 1 furtherincludinga adjustable stop meansincluding a' post secured to said combination rnandrel' support. and 3tube holder and adjustable shoulder means onsaid post in alignment withsaid hook for positioning the end of the tube to be bent in apreselected relationship to said mandrel groove.

10. In amanually operabletube bender having a mandrel provided with aperipheral tube receiving groove. a shoe swingably mounted to saidmandrel, and r a handle for swinging said shoe about said mandrel forurging a tube into said groove in a tube bending opera tion, theimprovement comprising: a

a one-piece support having'a first integral portion g l l. The tubebenderof claimill) wherein saidsupport defines a mountingwall spacedadjacent said mandrel defining said connector and a hook mountingportion adjacent said connector," said hook,ibeing mounted 'to saidhook"mounting'portio'n.i W

said second securing means comprises a pivot clement extending betweensaid mounting wall and said tnandrel, and said hook is pivotally mountedon saitl pivot element.

13. The tube bender of claim 10 wherein said su port definesa mountingwall spaced adjacent said mandrel. said connector portion comprising anextension oi said mounting wall.

14. The tube bender of claim 10 further including adjustable stop meanscarried by said support in ulignment with said hook for positioning theend of the tuhc to be bent in a preselected relationship to said mandrelgroove.

15. The tube bender of claim 10 further including adjustable stop meanscarried by said first securing means in alignment with said hook forpositioning the end of the tube to be bent in a preselected relationshipto said mandrel groove.

16'. The tube bender of claim 10 further includin adjustable stop meanscarried by said first securing means in alignment with said hook forpositioning the end of the tube to be bent in a preselected relationshipto said mandrel groove, said first securing means comprising an elongatepost having a threaded end secured to said mandrel.

17, The tube bender of claim 10 further including adjustable stop meanscarried by said first securing means-in alignment with said hook forpositioning the endof the tube to be bent in a preselected relationshito said mandrel groove. said first securing means comprising an elongatepostand said adjustable stop means includesshoulder means slidablymounted thereon. l8.f= 'The tube bender of claim 10 further includingadjustable stop'rneans including a post secured to said support andadjustableshoulder means on said post in alignment vwith said hook forpositioning the end of the 12. The tube bender of claim 10 whereindefines a mounting wall spaced adjacent said mandrel,

tube to be bent-in a preselected relationship to said mandrel groove.

# l l l

1. In a manually operable tube bender having a mandrel provided with aperipheral tube receiving groove, a shoe swingably mounted to saidmandrel, and a handle for swinging said shoe about said mandrel forurging a tube into said groove in a tube bending operation, theimprovement comprising: a one-piece combination mandrel support and tubeholder having a first integral portion defining a male clamp elementadapted to be clamped fixedly in a female clamping device for supportingthe tube bender during a tube bending operation, a second integralportion defining a hook adapted to be engaged by the tube for preventinglongitudinal movement thereof during the tube bending operation, and athird integral portion defining a connector; and securing means forfixedly securing said connector to said mandrel.
 2. The tube bender ofclaim 1 wherein said combination mandrel support and tube holdercomprises a block having an edge portion provided with a recess definingsaid hook.
 3. The tube bender of claim 1 wherein said combinationmandrel support and tube holder comprises an L-shaped block having anend edge portion provided with a recess defining said hook.
 4. The tubebender of claim 1 wherein said securing means is spaced substantiallyfrom said first portion of the combination mandrel support and tubeholder.
 5. The tube bender of claim 1 further including adjustable stopmeans carried by said combination mandrel support and tube holder inalignment with said hook for positioning the end of the tube to be bentin a preselected relationship to said mandrel groove.
 6. The tube benderof claim 1 further including adjustable stop means carried by saidsecuring means in alignment with said hook for positioning the end ofthe tube to be bent in a preselected relationship to said mandrelgroove.
 7. The tube bender of claim 1 further including adjustable stopmeans carried by said securing means in alignment with said hook forpositioning the end of the tube to be bent in a preselected relationshipto said mandrel groove, said securing means comprising an elongate posthaving a threaded end secured to said mandrel.
 8. The tube bender ofclaim 1 further including adjustable stop means carried by said securingmeans in alignment with said hook for positioning the end of the tube tobe bent in a preselected relationship to said mandrel groove, saidsecuring means comprising an elongate post and said adjustable stopincludes shoulder means slidably mounted thereon.
 9. The tube bender ofclaim 1 further including a adjustable stop means including a postsecured to said combination mandrel support and tube holder andadjustable shoulder means on said post in alignment with said hook forpositioning the end of the tube to be bent in a preselected relationshipto said mandrel groove.
 10. In a manually operable tube bender having amandrel provided with a peripheral tube receiving groove, a shoeswingably mounted to said mandrel, and a handle for swinging said shoeabout said mandrel for urging a tube into said groove in a tube bendingoperation, the improvement comprising: a one-piece support having afirst integral portion defining a male clamp element adapted to beclamped fixedly in a female clamping device for supporting the tubebender during a tube bending operation, and a second integral portiondefining a connector; first securing means for fixedly securing saidconnector to said mandrel; a hook adapted to be engaged by the tube forpreventing longitudinal movement thereof during the tube bendingoperation; and second securing means for movably securing the hook tosaid support adjacent said connector.
 11. The tube bender of claim 10wherein said support defines a mounting wall spaced adjacent saidmandrel defining said connector and a hook mounting portion adjacentsaid connector, said hook being mounted to said hook mounting portion.12. The tube bender of claim 10 wherein said support defines a mountingwall spaced adjacent said mandrel, said second securing means comprisesa pivot element extending between said mounting wall and said mandrel,and said hook is pivotally mounted on said pivot element.
 13. The tubebender of claim 10 wherein said support defines a mounting wall spacedadjacent said mandrel, said connector portion comprising an extension ofsaid mounting wall.
 14. The tube bender of claim 10 further includingadjustable stop means carried by said support in alignment with saidhook for positioning the end of the tube to be bent in a preselectedrelationship to said mandrel groove.
 15. The tube bender of claim 10further including adjustable stop means carried by said first securingmeans in alignment with said hook for positioning the end of the tube tobe bent in a preselected relationship to said mandrel groove.
 16. Thetube bender of claim 10 further including adjustable stop means carriedby said first securing means in alignment with said hook for positioningthe end of the tube to be bent in a preselected relationship to saidmandrel groove, said first securing means comprising an elongate posthaving a threaded end secured to said mandrel.
 17. The tube bender ofclaim 10 further including adjustable stop means carried by said firstsecuring means in alignment with said hook for positioning the end ofthe tube to be bent in a preselected relationship to said mandrelgroove, said first securing means comprising an elongate post and saidadjustable stop means includes shoulder means slidably mounted thereon.18. The tube bender of claim 10 further including adjustable stop meansincluding a post secured to said support and adjustable shoulder meanson said post in alignment with said hook for positioning the end of thetube to be bent in a preselected relationship to said mandrel groove.